Washboard.



Patented Dec. I6, I902. W. BOECKER.

WASHBOARD (Applicatipn filed Mar. 19, 1902.)

(lo Iodel.)

Wi/Iwsse s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W'OLFRAM BOECKER, OF BARMEN, GERMANY.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,957, dated December 16, 1902- Application filed March 19, 1902. Serial No. 98,988. (No model.)

To all whom it rnwy concern:

Be it known that I, WOLFRAM BoEoKER, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Barmen, in the Province of Rhenish Prussia and Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washboards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to improvements in washboards.

The washing-surface is made of sheet-iron, into which are stamped or worked by means of suitable stamping or pressing tools or by suitably-shaped pressing-rollers groups of ribs or elevations rising from the main surface and extending like rays or like the fingers of a hand from a central point and diverging fan-like in various directions. These groups of ribs are practically so arranged in rows that the said central points lie in two or more lines running parallel to the side edges of the washboard. The groups of elevations or ribs may, however, also be arranged in any other convenient manner.-

The accompanying drawings show the new washboard in various views, of which Figure 1 is a view in plan. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section along line I I of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section along line II II of Fig. 1.

Bya are indicated the side boards, to which is fixed the back I), and upon this are secured longitudinal supporting-bars 0, upon which rests the sheet-metal working surface d,which is also secured along the side edges in grooves f of the side boards. 6 isthc headpiece giv- 40 ing support to the body of the la undress.

The working surface is provided with the groups of the fan-like elevations 'r. The ribs of each group run out from a central point in each and they decrease in height and in width toward the ends.

In washing the clothes they are rubbed up and down on the washboards, as usual, coming into contact with the ribs at an acute angle and not at a right angle, as in ordinary boards, also coming first into contact with the tips of said ribs, which are quite low and be-' ing againstthe gradually rising and broadening parts. The action of the board is like that of a succession of outspread hands having fingers tapering in height as well as Width and is very efiectual for cleansing. Each cluster of ribs is a counterpart of the others, having hand-like form and tapering fingers. These clusters are preferably arranged in two parallel vertical series, as shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

WOLFRAM BOECKER.

Witnesses:

OTTO KONIG, T. A. RITTERSHAUS. 

